Scanning across the internet in the wake of Holger Osieck’s axing as the Socceroos manager and you will only find criticism of the 65-year-old German.
This seems to be indicative of the ‘Australian way’ and I assume that if it was an Australian who was coaching the national side, the opinions would be rather more friendly.
In the post match interview after the Socceroos’ 6-0 loss to France, Osieck stated:
“Right now we are definitely away from the international standard with those top teams. We have to face it because that is the reality. But we shouldn’t drop our heads.”
This was a brave statement from a man under pressure for which I believe he should be commended.
Australia’s move into the Asian Confederation does mean we will face tougher opposition but it does not mean we will be regularly playing sides of Brazil and France’s calibre.
The Socceroos are still a 50-something ranked team and we should acknowledge that and respect our players and coaches for making efforts to improve Australian football through a holistic approach.
Frank Lowy appointed Holger Osieck after Pim Verbeek’s poor showing at the 2010 World Cup.
The German’s two objectives was a strong showing at the 2011 Asian Cup and qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and let’s be honest with ourselves, these two objective are not as straightforward as everyone has made out them to be.
Australia’s showing in the Asian Cup was outstanding. After only six months in the job Osieck organised the squad into an attacking outfit.
The Socceroos made it to the final against Japan, only losing due to an extra-time header. In the process the Socceroos scored 13 times and only conceded twice.
A few months after the Asian Cup the Socceroos traveled to Germany and thanks to goals from David Carney and Luke Wilkshire, the Australians managed to grab a 2-1 victory.
Some of the people whom I believe intend to destroy Australian football pounced straight away saying the German fielded a ‘B’ side however they still fielded superstars such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Mario Gotze, Miroslav Klose, Andre Schurrle. Not a bad side.
Now we come to the first round of the 2014 World Cup qualification. The Socceroos are pooled with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Thailand.
The Australians top the group on 15 points, only losing 1-0 to Oman away in extreme conditions.
In the next round the Socceroos are pooled with Japan, Jordan, Oman and Iraq.
The Socceroos finished second, achieving automatic qualification to the 2014 World Cup.
Criticism was flung at Holger Osieck for the way the team qualified but the fact remains that the Socceroos did qualify.
Two shining results in this pool was the two draws against Japan, particularly the 1-1 in Japan that almost guaranteed the Socceroos qualification.
Another mentionable achievement was the qualification for the 2013 East Asian Cup with a young, untested Socceroos squad up against unknown footballing nations in some questionable conditions. Especially the pitch in Hong Kong which looked like the field I played on back in under 9s.
The Socceroos scored 19 goals in four games which is a good feat for an inexperienced team which saw the emergence of future Socceroos regulars, Mitchell Duke, Tomi Juric, Adam Taggart, Joshua Brilliante and Trent Sainsbury.
Holger Osieck’s overall record in charge of the Socceroos reads 23 wins, 10 draws and 11 defeats.
They scored a total of 85 goals at almost two a game and let in 48 at just over one a game. For a 50-something ranked nation these figure are pretty pleasing.
In 2013 it is true that the Socceroos have only won twice against Jordan and Iraq in 10 games.
They have still managed a goal-and-a-half a match but have also shipped in 25 goals. Of course the most concerning results are the two 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France but also the poor showings against China and Romania must also be considered.
This run of poor performances in this 2013 calendar year is most probably what cost the German his job.
It is important to acknowledge what Holger Osieck has achieve for Australian football. He put us within 15 minutes of our first major men’s trophy.
He orchestrated the miracle in Mönchengladbach and of course he booked our 24-million strong nation tickets to the greatest show on earth.
This last one is immense, imagine the fallout – if the Socceroos did not qualify, I hate to think of the ramifications it could have had on the local game.
So while the Socceroos face some challenging times ahead, we all must be grateful of what Osieck has given us because the Socceroos were not guaranteed anything.
Finally I would like to ask the question of who you think will be the next manager, not who you want to be next manager.
I understand that Ange Postecoglou and Graeme Arnold are favourites but I can’t see them taking over considering the A-League season has just started.
Maybe Guus Hiddink, what a fairytale! Mark Bosnich? Paolo Di Canio?
My best guess would be interim coach Aurelio Vidmar because he has the best current knowledge out the national team set up and he was appointed as national assistant coach because of his managerial abilities.
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Craig Foster has no idea what so ever at SBS. He is a goose. Likewise for Les Murray and he should retire asap.Johnny Warren had some common sense.He was lynched indeed for their youth teams efforts I argee. Franz Beckenbauer (Der/The Kasier) and Tim Cahills words do make more sense that these clowns on SBS TV. The FFA are gultiy also of listennig the stupid comments by SBS. Sack David Gallop asap.
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Holger was lynched and the FFA plus Australian media are responsible for this. His over all performed was good indeed as described in this article plus his aims were achieved.Having this So called Australian as head coach is a joke. This should have occured after the 2014 FIFA World cup. FIFA is corrput like Horse Racing. Sepp blatter needs to be sacked for what he has done to this nation due to oil money and greed. Maybe HG Nelson and Rampaging Roy Slaven should sort these clowns out. Starting with Sepp Blatter at FIFA then David Gallop and the FFA. I am expecting 3 losses at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil under this so called Aussie fellow.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
"Comfortably negotiated" you say. With what players? Who of Australian players are playing with top flight clubs? We lost 6 and 6 against 2 of the top 5 sides in the world, what was your expectation? What players or player pool does Holger have to draw from? There is no national youth league, and we got rid of our best youth coach in Scheinflug and brought in "Dutch experts"(Bann, Berger, Versleijen) who have achieved nothing. Losing to Vietnam 5-1 with no disrespect to Vietnam goes to show what is occurring. In what other country would you have people directing football who are not of a football background? You tak of ineptitude yet Osieck was part of Franz Becekenbauer coaching staff that won a world cup. That is ineptitude is it? I will take Becekenbauer's(a man that won World Cups as player and coach) word in front of yours or any other expert like Slater or Foster. You are wrong about "what you did years ago becomes irrelevant", because he got us to Brazil with an ageing squad, he's had 3 years and that is not sufficient time to do things he wanted to do in a qualifying environment. He got the results that mattered. Do you think if Mourinho, Guardiola, Ferguson were in charge they would have done better, you're deluded. Remember when he inserted Kennedy for Cahill, all the experts said "what is he doing"? Is it his fault they couldn't score against Iraq? Furthermore, as for the defence when would you have dropped Lucas Neill? He is playing central defence, it's his job to run the defence when the whistle goes not Holger's, not to mention he's the captain. The ineptitude you speak of is not Holger's fault it's the fault that he doesn't have the necessary players to draw from because the talent is not there. Ask yourself who is responsible for that, not Holger but the FFA. for getting rid of people like Scheinflug, Blanco, O'Connor etc.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
Please name the players and squads you would have used in qualifying for Brazil. Please name the players you would have dropped at the commencement when Holger Osieck took over. When was the last time Australia beat Japan in Japan(which they should have except for the handball). Yes, "poor manager" is Holger. Imagine other teams playing against France or Brazil back to back that are of a similar ranking to Australia, what would you think the results might be. According to you "under performing" is going to Brazil. Yes, very "under performing" indeed, and imagine if he had used a whole squad of other players, imagine how much further back that would have put Australian Football. It's obvious your football "knowledge" is limited and I use the word knowledge with severe reservation. You don't know what his plan was as he wasn't given the chance. Development of junior players just doesn't take 3 years it's a whole lot longer exercise and project. Please name the squad and players you would have used since 2010 and who you would have dropped. You have no idea.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
Why don't you come to the fore with some facts instead of being a dope and disgustingly rude. Dylan's article is absolutely correct and you've produced nothing, you talk about "debating" so debate or be quiet and don't abuse people for writing the truth about what happened not some spin or rubbish you read in other areas of the "football media".
Atti Abonyi
Guest
So we should have "rebuilt" whilst trying to make Brazil? With what players, please name them. We would not be at Brazil if not for Holger and I doubt very much any other coach Manager would have qualified us, despite the rubbish you read from Slater and Foster. Ask either of them to name players you could have used. They can't, it is all spin, and furthermore this decision is an absolute disgrace much like the scapegoating of Robbie Deans because Beale and O'Connor couldn't kick a goal against the Lions.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
It's is the Football media that drives the agenda in Australia, people like Foster, Slater etc. What have they achieved as Managers or Coaches? Were they ever part of winning a WC as Holger was as part of Franz Beckenbauer's team? I will take Franz Beckenbauer's word, Tim Cahill's word, Scott Chipperfield's word, over the likes of Slater any day of the week. Holger qualified us and his next step was to develop in the next 3 years. It was a dumb idea to play 2 of the best 5 teams in the world back to back. They could have had games against e.g. Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, as far as I'm concerned the choice of fixtures was absolutely ridiculous and no matter who was coach/manager against Brazil France the outcome would have been the same or worse. Holger the scapegoat for the decisions FFA have made in the last 5-10 years regarding our youth teams.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
He gave Carney a chance, who would you have played against one of the top 5 sides in the world, go on name the player who can play on the left side at the back. he had previous experience so Holger gave him a chance and you say he "played Carney FFS". Whoever you played there would have maybe even more like 10-0 or 12-0, then what would you have said? It's Holger's fault for playing a rookie against a top 5 side in the world.
Atti Abonyi
Guest
Dylan, very good article and entirely correct. I am sick and tired of the ":analysts" and "experts" of the likes of Slater and Foster. The whole of the FFA should be sacked, not Holger Osieck. The FFA are the people who have presided over many of the failures at junior level, they got rid of Les Scheinflug who made 14 junior World Cup Finals,Steve O'Connor, Raul Blanco, and look at the state of our development now. What development? Players like Kewell, Viduka, Grella, Bresciano all benefited from good junior systems. We used to have a good junior youth league that was an interstate competition, now what do we have? The AIS play in some poor competition so how are they to develop with inadequate competition. Yes Robbie Slater, you're an expert so who would have you played in do or die qualification matches, name the players, then we have some wizard at the FFA who decides we should play Brazil in Brazil and France in France as back to back matches with an ageing squad. What were you expecting the outcome would be. Everyone criticised Osieck for taking off Cahill, and if he hadn't have brought on Kennedy we wouldn't even be going to a World Cup. In what other country do you have people directing the future of football at all levels who come from a non football background? John Boultbee-rowing-fail-Ben Buckley-AFL-fail-David Gallop-NRL-fail, and what about the Hiddink factor, you think he will do any better, he failed to qualify Turkey and Russia and last time here he had all of the cream of the crop at their best. What is his legacy? Nothing. "Football analysts" the words should be used loosely indeed, and what chance was Holger given? Qualified us with an ageing squad, then we play 2 of the best sides in the world, what was your expectation with this squad? Name the players you would have played or blooded in qualifying or please be quiet, you can't because it is impossible to do so when you're trying to win games. This is a disgusting disgrace scapegoating Holger for this. I didn't see him playing in defence, midfield, or forwards. Furthermore, this is the fault of people like Boultbee and others, where is the blowtorch for the appointments of Boultbee, Buckley, Gallop, Berger. Baan, Versleijen. Losing 5-1 against Vietnam at youth level with no disrespect to Vietnam shows you the state of our juniors. What have these Dutch coaches ever achieved in comparison to Scheinflug, O'Connor or Blanco? In what other country would you put a CEO in charge of a sport who is directing our future who is not from football? It's a disgrace and something has to be done about it.
Pete
Guest
Also, not to labour the point, and I only brought it up because it seemed such an odd mistake and that someone who was a fan would know that. They would also remember David Carney was supposed to be marking Lee in that 2011 final. The fact that Carney still gets picked at all after that has surprised me. Anyway, at the risk of being roundly abused on the internet (the horror) for forming a full sentence or four, I think that HO has partly dug his own grave here, but perhaps the infrastructure is not quite there yet to expect solid consistent results. We have to remember that the national curriculum is not that old, and therefore, we would expect there to be a lag between the "golden generation" and the new players who grow up on the new curriculum. On the other hand, any coach losing back to back matches 6-0 probably is not going to be that surprised to be shown the door, Ange said as much on this morning's Offsiders. Dylan, I wish you well in your online abuse career, it is off to a flying start, champ. Peace out.
Peter
Guest
Measured response.
j binnie
Guest
ciudadmarron - Rather strangely the words you use when describing what were the "job expectations" from Holger when first aired, are actually almost word for word the same as a quote made in the press by Holger's stand -in for a game v Slovenia in 2010.The speaker,Han Berger. So who actually set the criteria,Berger,or O'Neill,or even Lowy??????? Holger took charge AFTER the Slovenia game.
Davstar
Guest
Dylan Arvela you cant tell me David Carney who have barely played a game is more deserving than many of the young guns we have waiting for a chance? You cant tell me the selection of Jade North over Williams, Davidson etc was justified when he was mostly sitting on the bench for F.C. Tokyo. Holger couldn't pick a squad when he finally gave Oar a chance the kid shined!! Also and this was the thing i hated Holger the most for he said he doesnt want players playing in the middle east but then picks them for national team selection. We was a weak coach who had a squad strong enough to of eased though qualification but still struggled. So many poor selections, poor tactical decisions he had to go and we should sign someone of quality this time around and not some no body looking for a easy pay check and wont take responsibility when he isnt doing his job. A weak coach who couldnt put his house in order and didnt have the balls to drop players not willing to play at the highest level they could. Well done to David and Frank for showing him the door they should of done it after we lost to JORDAN
fadida
Guest
Based on what? You haven't debated, you've abused
Gavin
Guest
To further this now that I have time; -You say Japan has better players across the park; that is true but is it because we haven't developed the best possible side we can? We have some extremely talented goal keepers playing at top levels and not getting any game time over the previous years (bar last night). Tommy Oar should have been blooded by now as he definitely has the potential as do a few others. -We've had just 2 wins from our last 10 games (For 15 Against 24) and if you take away the games against Chinese Taipai and Guam, in our last 21 matches; the beginning of 2012, we're at (For 31 Against 37). I take those out of the equations because you can't let matches like that gloss over what is truly happening. And yeah, Australia did beat Germany but that was a friendly, who cares about that? Remember the 4-0 drubbing during the World Cup? Those are the matches that count. Completely different game and a nothing result if we can't do it against other top sides.
Titus
Guest
Retrospectactively in hindsight we should have sacked him earlier.....the man is still playing Dave Carney FFS.
Pablo
Guest
Next time I see the name Dylan Arvela against an article I think i'll just skip right on by. Not going to bother debating football with you as my time is more valuable than that, and i hope other posters boycott your articles too. You just trying to be controversial or are you really this much of a knob end ?
Dylan Arvela
Roar Guru
I am acknowledging them but it seems they have not red the article.
Jay
Guest
Dylan, at this point I am wondering whether you are reading the points being brought up by your readers (in a very logical manner) and not just blindly defending your position?
Arthur fonzarelli
Guest
While away thrashings against brazil and France are not pretty , these 2 teams may well be very dominant at the world cup and will put many superior teams than Australia to the sword . Let's see how the next coach does.